XYZ Company is a fast-growing enterprise based in Eastern Australia, serving over 2 million customers globally. The company specializes in the buying and selling of food items, with operations primarily managed from its headquarters.
To extend its reach, XYZ Company is planning to open a new branch office near Bonalbo village. The company is seeking young IT graduates to design and implement a standalone network for this branch.
The network for the Bonalbo branch must meet the following specifications:
- Use of one Cisco Router and one Cisco Switch
- All networking equipment must be Cisco-branded
- Admin / IT
- Finance / HR
- Customer Service / Reception
-
Each department must be assigned to a separate VLAN
-
Each department must also support a wireless network for user access
-
All host devices (wired and wireless) must obtain IPv4 addresses automatically (via DHCP)
-
Devices in all departments must be able to communicate with each other (inter-VLAN routing required)
| Feature | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Router | 1 Cisco Router |
| Switch | 1 Cisco Switch |
| VLAN Segmentation | 3 VLANs (one per department) |
| Wireless Access | Required per department |
| IP Address Assignment | DHCP (IPv4) |
| Inter-department Communication | Must be enabled |
| Network Separation from HQ | Operates independently |
This project showcases a range of essential networking technologies and configurations using Cisco equipment in a simulated environment.
-
🛠️ Creating a Simple Network
Built a basic topology using a Cisco Router and an Access Layer Switch. -
🔌 Correct Cabling
Connected routers, switches, and host devices using appropriate cable types (straight-through and crossover).
-
🏷️ VLAN Creation & Port Assignment
Defined multiple VLANs and assigned switch ports to specific VLAN IDs to isolate departmental traffic. -
🧮 Subnetting & IP Addressing
Subnetted the IP network to align with VLAN requirements and assigned logical IP schemes.
-
🔁 Inter-VLAN Routing (Router-on-a-Stick)
Configured sub-interfaces on a single router interface to enable communication between VLANs. -
📡 DHCP Configuration
Implemented a DHCP server on the router to provide automatic IP addressing to host devices.
- 📲 WLAN Setup (Cisco Access Point)
Configured wireless access for each department using a Cisco Access Point for mobile connectivity.
-
🧾 Static & Dynamic Host Configurations
Configured host devices using both static IPs and DHCP assignments. -
✅ Testing & Verification
Verified end-to-end connectivity using tools likepingand simulation mode in Packet Tracer.
💡 This project is an excellent opportunity for aspiring IT professionals to showcase practical skills in network design, VLAN configuration, inter-VLAN routing, DHCP setup, and wireless deployment—all within a real-world scenario.